During the Qingming Festival, taking advantage of the three-day holiday, many families return to their hometowns to honor ancestors or gather friends for a short self-drive trip, making the most of these bright or refreshing spring days. However, many family vehicles are city-road-oriented compact cars, which require inspection and maintenance after trips of varying lengths. Just as we adjust our mindset to re-engage in work, study, and life, a well-serviced vehicle can also better return to optimal driving condition on urban roads.
Give Your Car a Good Wash
Depending on your self-drive route, your car may encounter varying degrees of contamination. Bird droppings and insect residue can damage the paintwork, so don’t skimp on cleaning just because it’s a hassle. Always use professional cleaning tools—scraping with your fingernails may scratch the paint and leave marks.
There are many hidden areas on a car that can accumulate dirt even during short trips. If not cleaned promptly, they can become potential hazards. The sealing strips around the car body are one such often-overlooked spot—pay extra attention when washing your car.
Take Care of Your Car’s “Feet”
For self-drive trips, the parts that wear out the most are undoubtedly the tires and brake pads. Flying gravel during the journey can easily stick to the brake pads, and pressing the brakes can cause these stones to scratch them. Tire treads may also trap many small rocks. Though they seem harmless, these stowaways can eventually cause bulges or even blowouts if left unchecked. Be sure to clean them out and give your tire pressure a check.
Give Your Car the “Three Dishes and One Soup” Treatment
After a few days on the road, most of us come home and cook a nice meal to reward ourselves. The same goes for your car—timely checks on engine oil, windshield washer fluid, brake fluid, and antifreeze are essential. If any of these “soups and dishes” are running low, top them up promptly to avoid future driving issues.
Many drivers notice steering wheel vibrations after returning from a trip, which could be due to rough road conditions. A wheel alignment or dynamic balancing can resolve these issues.
All in all, cars have become a reliable companion for most families in daily life and travel. Only with careful maintenance can your car avoid leaving you stranded on the side of the road next time. As seasoned drivers often say, “It’s three parts driving, seven parts maintenance.” There’s a lot of truth in that.